You can enjoy a resort holiday for four for under R10 000…here’s how!
With the prospect of spring in the air, everyone is yearning to get away from it all to enjoy a long-overdue break. But the idea of a holiday nowadays is often so foreign to many South Africans, that they simply don’t even consider it due to the perceived cost. Yet armed with a little insider info, your next vacay could be just around the corner.
Seasoned traveller and renowned expert in the travel industry, Rioma Cominelli (Director of First Loyalty Plus) says, “With a little tightening of one’s belt, monthly saving and expert planning, you can be en route to your first (or next) family holiday before you know it!”
Here are her 7 top tips to get you moving in the right (holiday) direction:
1. Local destination: Location, location, location! Choose a destination that is close to home which will result in a significant saving on fuel – and who couldn’t do with THAT right now? Don’t be fooled into thinking that you must travel miles to relax and unwind – sometimes the very best gems are right on our doorstep.
2. Book in advance and for a shorter period: Booking far in advance will not only allow you more time to save for the trip but will also be significantly cheaper than booking at the last minute (when demand is higher). Choosing to go away for four nights instead of six is savvy – that way, you won’t rack up the cost of a full week, and while this may seem too short, consider that five days away is still better than only a weekend away.
3. Consider off-peak times: If you have small children or are retired, and you’re not governed by school holidays or weekends, then take advantage of out-of-season/mid-week specials. This way you’ll be assured of stretching your budget even further, as school holidays and weekends are usually charged at peak season/higher rates.
4. Self-catering: It is almost always cheaper to book self-catering apartments or cottages rather than hotel rooms. Eating out is also expensive, so save costs by eating in. This needn’t mean hours in the kitchen for mom – pack a picnic for a fun, outdoor adventure, enjoy family braais or make use of ready-made pizzas or meals.
5. Make a list: What good is a summer holiday without your fave cozzie, hat and book that you’ve now forgotten at home? If you don’t make a list to ensure that everything gets packed, you’ll be forced to waste time and money shopping for things you have left behind. So, keep costs down by not having to spend unnecessarily.
6. Free activities: They say that the best things in life are free, and how much better when you’re on holiday! First Group Hotels & Resorts, for example, have daily planned activities that won’t cost you a cent. In addition, you can go on a hike, go for a bike ride in the mountains, make use of sports facilities such as tennis courts, do some fishing or spend a day at the beach. Don’t be pressurised into thinking that you need to jam activities into every minute of the day to enjoy your holiday – this will be a stressful (and expensive) mistake.
7. Join a Loyalty Programme: Accommodation is notorious for eating up the largest slice of your holiday budget, and one of the easiest ways to minimise this, is to sign up for a loyalty programme. As a member of First Loyalty Plus, for example, you’ll score up to 50% discount on accommodation, meals, etc. Visit firstloyaltyplus.co.za for more info on membership and amazing deals on accommodation.
Rioma concludes, “The benefits of a family holiday go far beyond the obvious rest and relaxation; it’s the lifelong memories that you’ll create when you’re away from the daily grind that will last for years to come. By planning your next holiday smartly, you’ll be far more likely to make that dream an affordable reality.”
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